Car Magazine review: BMW 1 Series M Coupe

Another publication to spend some time aboard the BMW 1 Series M Coupe is the UK-based Car Magazine. During a private event at Ascari race …

Another publication to spend some time aboard the BMW 1 Series M Coupe is the UK-based Car Magazine. During a private event at Ascari race track in Spain, the British journalists reported their findings on the new, exciting 1 Series M model.

Same as Car and Driver, the journalists were passengers in the 1 Series M Coupe which were driven by BMW professional drivers.

What’s the engine in the 1-series M Coupé?

A shroud of secrecy hides many of the facts about BMW’s new pocket rocket. But we continue to probe the car’s minders and driver Frank Isenberg and uncover a fair amount of detail as we lap the Ascari race circuit.

The engine will be the same as the 135i’s – right down to the twin turbos. However, an engine remap and extra boost send power spiralling to around 350bhp. All that grunt in a small coupé bodyshell is contained by a limited slip diff and sticky 245/35 ZR19 and 265/35 ZR19 Michelin Pilot Sport rubber.

How does it feel on track?

The highly strung, bi-turbo engine sounds very obviously forced induction, with a whooshing rush of air dominating the soundtrack as the revs wind out. The yellow rev limit area starts at 7000rpm, slipping into the red by 7500rpm. We spend most of our time hovering around the red; it sounds exciting, with a light pop when the driver backs off.

Front-end grip feels very strong, but from where I’m sitting the rear feels agile enough if less willing to play than the uber-coaxable M3. It’s obviously difficult to say from the passenger seat, but my overall impression is of a clean, tidy, nimble handler.

Our driver, who’s the project manager and been working on the 1-series M for a year, says the manual shift suits the car. The 135i doesn’t have BMW’s twin-clutch DCT ‘box and as far as we can make out, nor will the M 1-series.